Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication

We have had a very exciting weekend here in Utah. Several months ago the first presidency announced that the Oquirrh Mountain Temple dedication would be broadcast on Sunday the 23rd of August in two sessions. And what was really strange, was that all church meetings on that day in Utah would be canceled so that members could attend either of the dedication sessions. I think it emphasized how important Temple's are to the Lord and that they truly should be the center of our lives.


Sunday morning Pam and I attended the 9:00 am session, but we had to be there much earlier. I was at the stake center at 7:30 am looking over everything. Our instructions indicated we should ensure our chapel was secure and clean and beautiful. We had done all we could to ensure all of those things were in place so that our stake center would be an extension of the Oqurrh Mountain Temple. People began arriving as early at 7:45 am and by 8:30 am the chapel was full and we were well back into the cultural hall. When we locked the doors at 8:45 am we had over 720 members in attendance.


It's always wonderful to see the Prophet and he arrived with a small party of dignitaries and right at 9:00 am the session began with President Monson conducting. We heard from Sister Lifferth of the General Primary Presidency, followed by Elder Paul Johnson and Spencer Jones of the seventy. We then heard a wonderful talks from Elder Bednar of the twefve followed by President Uchtdorf. Finally the dedicatory prayer was delivered by President Monson. Such a beaufiful and spriitual prayer. A multi-stake choir provided the music and they were beautiful.


In the afternoon I returned at 1:30 pm and we went through the same routine concerning the building, ensuring it was clean again and set up for another session. We had high councilors at each of three doors checking recommends or dedication tickets and by 2:45 pm we had over 400 in attendance. President Monson again presided and conducted and was joined by other general authorities and general officers of the church. We heard from Sister Silvia Allred of the General Relief Society Presidency, followed by Elder Paul Sybrowky and Elder Craig Zwick. Elder Zwick was Travis' mission president in Chile. Finally we heard from Elder Ballard of the twelve, followed by a wonderful, tender address by President Monson. President Eyring delivered the dedicatory address, which was the same prayer as in the morning. Again another equally wonderful choir provided the music.

With the Oqurrh Mountain Temple commencing operations today, it makes 130 operating temples throughout the church. I hope and pray that we all take advantage of temples near our homes and enjoy the work taking place within for ourselves and our ancestors. Pam and I made a commitment many years ago to attend weekly and for the most part we have accomplished that goal and plan to continue to do so. It has made a tremendous difference in our lives.

Cottle Family Reunion 2009 - Denver

Pam and I and Erin, Weston and Kate drove to Denver on Wednesday the 29th of July and joined other members of the family for a 3 day family reunion. Unfortunately Andrew was in Munich, Germany during this period and could not be with us. Johanna, Cynthia, Sarah and Jennifer put together our activities and it was a wonderful fun-filled reunion. Upon our arrival we made the rounds of the family and visited and enjoyed seeing everyone again. Erin and Weston stayed with Travis and Jennifer and Pam and I stayed with Tom and Johanna.

Thursday morning Jennifer and her girls and Sarah and her children and little Alex went to a swimming pool nearby and spent an enjoyable time while the rest of the family went golfing. We had two foursomes and played 18 holes at the Broken Tee golf course. The weather was suspect because it was cold and rainy but the 4 hours in which we played turned out to be very nice and we had a good time. That evening we all assembled at Tom and Johanna's home and enjoyed a wonderful meal of Tom's stuffed hamburgers. When we had all we could eat, we drove to Tom and Johanna's chapel and played "Human Foos Ball." A few of us had played before, but for the majority it was a new game, but a lot of fun and from the young children to an old man like me. We had a great time.





Friday our plans took us to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in downtown Denver. We began our odyssey through a number of venues around 11:00 am and spent 3 or 4 hours enjoying the Space Odyssey, Expedition Health, Edge of the Wild, South Pacific Islands and Australia, and finally Gems and Minerals. There was a lot more to see, but we were tired and called it a day around 3:30 pm. We drove to Andrew and Sarah's home and had our evening dinner and enjoyed visiting. To cap the evening off we walked to a nearby elementary school and played a rousing game of "Kick Ball" and stretched a few muscles. It must have been fun because only darkness caused us to end the game.








Saturday morning we all assembled at the Chatsworth Reversoir swim beach near Roxborough and had a fun-filled late morning and afternoon playing in the water, visiting on the beach and for several getting more sun that they needed. It was a perfect day at the beach, with a clear sky and temperatures in the 80's. We had lunch of hot dogs and chips and other trimmings and enjoyed the day.









Saturday evening was an Adult dinner at one of our favorite spots - "Texas Roadhouse." Spencer took care of some of the children in Highlands Ranch and Drew the others in Roxborough. Eveyrthing turned out perfectly and the 11 of us at the restuarant enjoyed the meal and visiting.

Sunday was the conclusion to our reunion and perhaps the best day of all. At 11:00 am the family met at the Roxborough chapel following sacrament and sunday school meetings and attended the ordination of Drew to the office of Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. Travis ordained his son and gave a wonderful blessing. Following the block of meetings we all met at Travis and Jennifer's home in Roxborough for the final events of our reunion. Travis and Jennifer prepared a wonderful meal and we ate and ate and ate some more as we visited and watched all the fun antics of the little children - in and out of the house, and up and down the stairs. They had endless energy. The girls had stuffed plastic easter eggs with candy and Tom and Johanna went outside and hid them all over the yard and then the children went hunting, starting with the youngest and finally with Spencer.

After an hour or so we held an adults meeting on the patio and discussed the future of our reunion and then the children joined us and we had a final devotional. I told about one of our ancesters - William Henry Cottle and their crossing the plains and eventual settling in Plain City, Utah. I then began a testimony meeting and one by one we heard wonderful expressions of love and devotion to family and the church from all the adults and also Spencer and Kali. It was a wonderful conclusion to a wonderful reunion. We look forward to 2010 in Monroe!